The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-29
THE LAST SPIKE.
MemphisLinkedtOB Birmingham
The Final Ceremony Takes Place In
Marion County, Ala.
Appropriate Address or Hon. John
Allen, OF Mississippi.
Value Of the Road rs a CONNER cial
Feeder for Memphis.
The ItmitabIe Natural Resources
which Will he Opened Up
~ This Great Trunk
MemphisLinkedtOB birmingham
lsPpoIAL TO TIE APPrAL.l

lrrnUlAL TO Thn ArfhALsl
BIRMINGHAM, ALA, September 2S.-
The weather was very inclemsnt yes
terday morning when Gen. s. II. Net
Teton, general manager OF the Kansas
City and Memphis railroad system,
with 9 party, left Memphis to wit.
ness the laying Of the last rail Of the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birming-
ham railroad. The rain came down In
spasmodlc showers all day, and II was
still pouring when the special train
arrived at Armory, Monroe county,
Miss. But, Notwithstanding the damp
ness Of the weather, II did not cool the
ardor OF those interested In the com.
pletion Of this great enterprise, and,
to the delight Of the party, the morn.
ing broke clear and bright upon Ar
mory. The train left that place, where
the principal shops Of the company
are TO be located, at 8 o'clock this
morning and jogped along slowly until
the g'p at 5ulr, M'rion county, Ala,
wss reached. Word was teieersphed
last night to Gen. Nettlotor, at Ar.
mory, u at 5000 feet Of rail had yet to
be lai but when tho train arrived a,
Guin only stoat go feet rad to bs
laid. This Was done BY The eIperlenc ced
corps OF lsborers 10 a jigy, There
we're fully 100 people, outside Of tho
emoloyrs, there 10 witr ess the com.
ple,ion cf the track laying, end the
excitement grew more iBtensa ss the
spsce 10 10 closed grew lerp, and Just
A. the iEst iron whicn bound Men,
phis TO Birmingham end tho mex
ha austible coal and iron fields OF North
Alabama was laid huEzl went up
as the voice Of one man, which was
followed by round after round Of
throat splitting cheers. The manage.
ment did not intend TO have any
concentrations and was not pre-.
pared, and did not expect TO hsv,
lhat great number Of interesteC {
spectators. After the last rail was laid
and after the vociierous cheers hst
died away In the hills Of coal anC
iron, the remaining spikes were driven
TSis last spike mide the road 73s
miles long. A large crowd had
gathered to witness the interesting
event General Nettleton announced
that Mr. J. M. Heating, editor Of th'
Memphis APPEAL, and Private Johr
Allen, Congressman from the Fir
Mississippi District, could drive the
last two tpikes. This, while exciting
was a. the same time amusing. Mr.
Allen pulled of his coat, which
Knight Of Labor operation seemed tc
d6heht the natives. The shouting enc
laul hlrg Of The crowd WIS deAienlrg
Mr. Heating did not rem pys any par
Of bis sPparel, because he said h,
could do just 40 well 4 he had an
oyercoat on. Mr.. Allen hi. the nal
on he head every time, though Mr.
Ksa,i had come trouble IA hndinl
It, and when be tinlshed be was greet
I'd with hearty rounds Of chGerp. ATE
the completion ci their tuks MI
Allen wac intr duced n the crowd
Ho got uIon tie oio.s-tie iato whicI
the last spike had been driven an,
spoke az follc VS.:
'LADIp AND GKSrLKNES-I am hap
py 10 be here today 10 witness aL'
participate In closing tue last link Q
this great line Of railway. / wish /
G ngratulate the management an
suboIdinates, oflicere, employees al,
laborers, on the completion oi 20 gres
en- enter prise in 20 short time. Suc
a result would have been deemed I'm
possible a few yeas ago, out the on
terprise, industry aod good iudgmen
. Of the officials, aided by the indelalip
able energy OF the contractors an
laborers, has worked cut the grea
result. do not congratulat
the company alone, but th
people along lie line Of III
splendid road, which 10 In my opinio
destined 10 bs one Of the grealeI
lines In the South, connecting 90
does with the foremost prosperou
and progressive cities oi the south On
West. / desire 10 say 10 the peopl
here present that, from what kro
and have heard OF The management
this line Of railroad, b, 10 imbu,d wit